Shocking Mathura Yamuna Expressway accident leaves 13 dead and over 100 injured as nine vehicles crash in dense fog

Yamuna Expressway accident

UP News /sbkinews.in

A horrific multi-vehicle collision on the Yamuna Expressway near Mathura turned into an inferno, leaving at least 13 people charred to death and more than 100 injured, according to preliminary official estimates. The accident, which occurred around 4 am amid dense fog, involved a chain collision of nine vehicles, including buses and cars, and is being described as one of the most devastating road tragedies in the region in recent months. Senior officials, including the district magistrate and senior police leadership, rushed to the spot as rescue teams battled flames, mangled metal and zero-visibility conditions to pull out survivors.

Dense fog turns expressway into deadly trap

Eyewitnesses and survivors have stated that visibility on the Yamuna Expressway had dropped to just a few metres at the time of the accident, with several vehicles already slowing down or halting on the carriageway. In the poor visibility, a speeding vehicle allegedly rammed into a vehicle ahead, triggering a massive pile‑up in which at least nine vehicles collided one after another. Within minutes, fuel leakage and friction caused a fierce fire that engulfed multiple vehicles, trapping many passengers inside before they could escape.

The intensity of the blaze was such that firefighters and police personnel struggled for hours to douse the flames and cut open the twisted frames of the vehicles. Officials later confirmed that the bodies recovered from some of the vehicles were so badly charred that even preliminary identification at the site was impossible. Specialised equipment and additional fire tenders from nearby towns were pressed into service, while traffic on the expressway was diverted for several hours.

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13 bodies recovered, remains sent in 18 body bags

Rescue teams recovered 13 bodies from the burnt vehicles, but the condition of the remains forced authorities to pack them into 18 different body bags, indicating the extent of disfigurement caused by the fire. Forensic experts have been called in to assist with identification, and in several cases, DNA testing is likely to be required before the bodies can be handed over to families. Among the dead is reported to be the former personal secretary of Uttar Pradesh finance minister Suresh Khanna, adding a political dimension to the tragedy.

Police and medical teams on the ground said that more than 100 people had suffered injuries, ranging from minor fractures and burns to critical head and spinal injuries. The injured were rushed to multiple hospitals in Mathura, Agra and Noida to avoid overwhelming any single facility, with district authorities issuing an appeal for blood donations and specialist medical support.
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President, Prime Minister and Chief Minister express grief

President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Donald Trump (as per current office) have expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives in the Mathura expressway disaster and conveyed condolences to the bereaved families. The leaders also wished speedy recovery for the injured and assured that the Centre would provide all possible assistance to the state administration in relief and investigation efforts.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath described the crash as a “heart‑rending” incident and announced ex‑gratia compensation of ₹2 lakh each for the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 each for the injured. He directed officials to ensure the best possible medical treatment for all victims and instructed the administration to keep the government informed of any complications or additional needs of the survivors and their families.

Magistrate inquiry ordered, organiser among those under scanner

District Magistrate C P Singh and Senior Superintendent of Police Shailesh Kumar quickly reached the accident site to supervise rescue operations and later visited hospitals to meet the injured. Singh has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the circumstances leading to the collision, assigning Additional District Magistrate (Administration) Amrish Kumar to head the probe. The inquiry will examine factors such as speed, adherence to fog‑related advisories, condition of road signage and lighting, and whether any private operators violated safety norms.

Officials hinted that liability could extend to transport operators and logistics companies if negligence, overloading or poor maintenance of vehicles is established. The administration has also publicised dedicated helpline numbers for families seeking information on missing relatives, urging them to contact district control rooms instead of rushing directly to hospitals or the crash site.

Parallel tragedies on Purvanchal Expressway and in Unnao

The Mathura disaster was not the only fatal incident reported from Uttar Pradesh’s highways. On the Purvanchal Expressway in Barabanki district, an Ertiga car reportedly lost control after hitting a divider, veered off the road and fell into a deep ditch, killing two occupants and seriously injuring three others. The victims were said to be travelling from Bihar and Azamgarh, and the crash again highlighted the dangers of speeding on long, straight expressway stretches, particularly in low‑visibility or night‑time conditions.

In a separate accident in Unnao, a car carrying a local SubhaSP (Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party) leader, Ashraf Ansari, and his relatives collided with another vehicle, leading to four deaths, including the politician and his nephew. The group was reportedly travelling to Lucknow when the collision occurred, and police have initiated a case to determine whether overspeeding, fatigue or mechanical failure played a role.deccanherald

Fog, speed and enforcement under fresh scrutiny

Together, the crashes on the Yamuna Expressway, Purvanchal Expressway and in Unnao have renewed scrutiny of road safety protocols in Uttar Pradesh, particularly during the winter fog season. Experts have long warned that high‑speed corridors without strict lane discipline, adequate fog signage, reflectors and real‑time advisories can turn deadly when visibility drops sharply. Authorities are now under pressure to step up on‑ground enforcement, revisit speed limits, install more variable message boards and ensure that operators of buses and commercial vehicles strictly adhere to rest breaks and weather alerts.

For families who lost loved ones in these crashes, however, such steps will be little consolation. As investigators piece together the sequence of events, the tragic images of burnt vehicles, shattered glass and grieving relatives serve as a stark reminder that a few moments of speeding or a lapse in highway management can result in irreversible loss.